WBWF leader calls upon India to step forward against Baloch genocide

The World Baloch Women Forum has called upon India to fulfill its "moral responsibility" and play its role to stop Baloch genocide perpetrated by Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion of Baloch Martyrs Day, on Monday, Professor Naela Quadri Baloch called upon the Baloch community across the world to join the cause, and in particular, appealed to India to take a step against the Baloch genocide.

"India being the mother country of all independent states in the subcontinent has a moral responsibility toward the victims of partition whether based in India or elsewhere. India admirably discharged this responsibility in Bangladesh. It is time to pay attention to the plight of Baloch people. We appeal to India to play its role to stop Baloch genocide," Quadri said at the event.

The Baloch leader also paid tribute to the martyrs who died for the cause of Balochistan's independence.

"Salute to the fallen Baloch heroes of thousands of years of protecting our motherland Balochistan, today it is occupied by Pakistan that relies on demographic engineering, harsh crackdowns, Chinese investments, and religious extremists to tackle the secular Baloch independence movement. Kidnapping, torture, killing and rape the mode of governance," she said.

Appealing to all Baloch nations to join hands in the struggle for freedom, Quadri also urged the Baloch community settled outside and particularly the educated youth "to support our public diplomacy to highlight the plight of the Baloch people and build support for the cause of Baloch independence."

"We appeal to the international community to extend support to our cause. In a world ravaged by Jihadi terrorism, an independent secular Balochistan will be a bulwark against forces of extremism and hatred. An independent Balochistan will help stabilise war-torn Afghanistan. In particular, we appeal to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to recognise our cause and condemn Pakistan's oppression of Baloch people that is in every way contrary to the principles of justice," Quadri further appealed.

Quadri also requested the world powers to constitute a United Nations-mandated commission of inquiry and "send a fact-finding mission to investigate crimes against Baloch people by Pakistan military and notorious intelligence service ISI" expeditiously, so as to stop the violence without further delay.

Alleging that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is directly related to the ongoing Baloch genocide, Quadri called for terminating the project, contending that it was in fact "an opportunity for Pakistan's Military elite and corrupt political elite to indulge in pilferage of Balochistan precious resources in the grab of development, connectivity and trade."

"The CPEC is a cyanide pill to Baloch people, it may be sweeter than honey to the Pakistani elite, but it is honey-coated cyanide pill to us," she added.

Quadri castigated Pakistan, and demanded that it stop the mass murder of Baloch people.

The Baloch leader also resolved to continue the Baloch movement for independence, and strive by joining hands with all friends and people around the world who are sympathetic to the cause by utilizing all the necessary revolutionary tools at disposal.

"The world let us down in 1948, 1958, 1962, 1973 and 2006. Can the world afford to let us down once again? We hope not," concluded Quadri.

For decades in Balochistan, economic exploitation through the plundering of natural resources, and the systematic economic, social and political exclusion of indigenous Baloch people, has become a norm.

In addition to this, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression are used as covert tools to brutally repress the peaceful struggle for justice, rights and equality of the Baloch.

Reports say at least 8,000 Baloch are still victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, while 1,500 such victims were killed and dumped, according to human rights organisations.